For The Record

The A Street Beach Ramp will open to vehicular traffic Friday, said Dave Williams, aquatic superintendent of St. Johns County.

However, Williams recommends that two-wheel-drive cars use another entrance. The sand is still soft, and anything without four-wheel-drive is at risk of getting stuck, he said.

The county will place signs at the ramp explaining the situation.

"If people aren't sure if their vehicle can traverse it, then I wouldn't," Williams said.

The ramp will be entry only, he said. Cars will exit at the Ocean Trace Ramp.

At first, the beach will be open to two-way traffic in front of A Street, but that will change. When conditions improve and the sand hardens, traffic between A Street and Ocean Trace will be able to travel south only, he said.

Meeting announcement

The committee planning the 40th Anniversary Commemorating the Civil Rights Demonstrations of 1964 will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Oaks Apartments recreation room, 30 DeSoto Place. Those who were demonstrators from 1964 and those who have a story to share are asked to attend.

Publix store opens today

Publix at Cobblestone Village at St. Augustine opens at 7 a.m. today.

The 44,000-square-foot store is 25 percent larger than the old store on U.S. 1 in Seabridge Square, according to Todd Jones, regional manager for Publix. Cobblestone Village is located on State Road 312 west at Old Moultrie Road. The store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. New to the store are a sushi bar and a pharmacy. The store has approximately 140 employees. The store's manager is Dave Scott.